The
ews
^ Happy
\^entine’s
Day
No. 46 Vol. 93
Visit us
on the web
www.thenews-journal.com
This week
Wrestlers team up
with Boy Scouts
page 1B
Sheriff's deputies
capture fugitives
pageSA
Peterkin officially
begins campaign
page 10A
Index 1
Calendar
2B
Classifieds
.10-1 IB
Deaths
7A
Editorials....
2A
Legals....
8-9B
Public Record....
3A
Religion....
2B
Schools....
...9,12B
Social News....
3B
TV Listings....
4-5B
Weddings....
3B
Around Town
imui
By Sam C. Mokris
Contributing Editor
What a change in the
weather! As I write this col
umn Monday morning, it is
raining. The temperature is in
the low 30s and there is ice
hanging from the trees. There
have been many closings of
schools and businesses in the
western and northern part of
the state. The roads are pass
able in the county and I haven’t
heard of any closings. My first
thought when ice starts form
ing on trees is that it could
cause power lines to be hurt.
The cold weather is bad
enough without loss of elec
tricity.
The forecast for the remain
der of the week, Wednesday
through Saturday, calls for the
highs Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday to be in the 60s and
the lows will be in the 50s.
Saturday the high will be in
the 60s and the low in the 30s.
There is a chance of rain on
Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday.
Have you purchased your
ticket for the Raeford-Hoke
Chamberof Commerce-spon
sored Legislative Breakfast?
This is an annual affair and is
held at Burlington Mills Con
ference Room. The event this
year is Saturday, February 17,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. The
space is limited so go by the
chamber office and get your
ticket.
At this affair you will get to
hear from our Congressman
(See AROUND, page lA)
Journal
r.
It happened; it's news to
50 cents
Wednesday, February 14, 2001
Board didn’t know of impending audit
At least 4 federal grants on the line
By VicroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
The majority of Hoke com
missioners said they “are wait
ing” to hear if an $88,000 federal
grant intended for Sheriff Jim
Davis’ use was mismanaged by
County Manager Bernice
McPhatter.
No one knew there was any
problem, or there was going to
bean audit, was the consensus of
Commission Vice Chairman
Bobby Wright, Commission
Chairman L.E. McLaughlin Jr.
and Commissioners Charles V.
Daniels and Tony Hunt.
“We were not advised by Mrs.
McPhatter,” Wright said. “If we
decide to take any action about
this, it will be afterwards. It is
too pre-mature to discuss this
now.”
Since last Wednesday, the
Governor’s Crime Commission’s
auditors have been examining the
county financial records. Ques
tions regarding $88,000 that was
received for purchasing four ve-
(See A UDIT, page 6A)
Sheriff interrogates
Brittany’s parents
Family accuses Davis of harassment,
says they were pressured to confess
Charles and Connie Chavis
Not THAT kind of H.E.LR!
Proprietor Bonnie Johnson shows off two female mixed-chow puppies that were
dropped in a bin at the H.E.L.P. store in Raeford on Main Street over the weekend.
Wet and hungry, the pair is looking for a loving home.
Board undecided on
year-round calendar
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Hoke’s Board of Education remains
at an “impasse” regarding whether to
implement a “modified” year-round
calendar or stick closer to its current
year-round schedule for 2001-2002,
said Hoke school superintendent
Mitch Tyler today.
However, the school board voted
on Tuesday night to approve the tradi
tional calendar for Hoke County High
and Turlington schools, and to con
sider some modifications to the year-
round calendar at the county’s other
nine middle and elementary schools.
In favor of the motion, were Leland
Strother, who broke a previous tie,
Harry Southerland and Teddy
Locklear. Opposed to the joint mo-
(See YEAR-ROUND, page 9A)
it.
IK
Brittany Lynn Locklear
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Pat Allen Wilson
Editor
There is yellow tape tied around the old
oak tree again in the front of young mur
der victim Brittany Locklear’s home on
Gainey Road. However, it does not sym
bolize hope for her safe return home as the
previous yellow ribbons strung in 1998.
This is crime tape that was wrapped around
the mobile home last Monday by Hoke
deputies to allegedly legally “keep them
out” after Oakwood Homes repossessed
it, said Connie Chavis, mother of Brit
tany. She and her husband, Charles, step
father of Brittany, have struggled finan
cially since the murder of their daughter
^^ j three years ago,
and had their
trailer foreclosed
for $6,000 in back
payments.
Chavis said
painful reminders
about Brittany re
turned after Sher
iff Jim Davis had
deputies take her
to his office last
Tuesday for inter
rogation — one
. day after her
Crime tape at the Chavis home. . i i j
trailer was locked
up. She alleged Davis’ questions about her daughter’s murder
were “totally off the wall.” Charles Chavis and her father-in-law,
James “Candy Rose” Stevens, were also questioned, she said.
“He accused us of everything from me having an affair with a
law official, my daughter being fathered by this same man,
showed terrible naked photographs of Brittany to my father-in-
law and even accused him of accepting a bribe to keep quiet about
who murdered my daughter,” Chavis said. “He tried to get each
one of us to confess to her killing. All of us told him we were not
guilty.
“My daughter was loved. We gave her the best we could. This
is a terrible tragedy, and no one knows how it feels to lose your
(See INTERROGATION, page lOA)
2'liarr
. V
. 1' , i. «
Hoke Board of Commissioners
carries on in chairman’s absence
vk' ^
“ % A ,
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
For Commission Chairman L.E.
McLaughlin Jr., absence from a county com
missioners’ meeting is rare. However,
McLaughlin has been ill since last year. His
physical condition has resulted in him miss
ing the past two meetings, and some others
last year. Several commissioners are worried
McLaughlin’s continued absence may pre
vent majority votes on future, critical issues.
Since his December election as the chair
for the fifth time since 1990, he promised to
bring the board to “heights of excellence.”
Commissioner Charles V. Daniels said he
looks to McL^aughlin as a “respected leader”
to ease the board through any crisis.
“We just pray L.E. will get better, and be
back with us soon,” Daniels said. “We rely on
his advice and experience. He is like a rock to
this board.
“1 feel like some people with their own
interests at stake would like to see L.E. re
sign.”
Daniels said he has already been ap
proached by a former Raeford official who
(See CHAIRMAN, page 9A)
Coach Walter Barnhill, center, on “signing day" with Micheaux Hollingsworth,
left, and Anthony McLeod. Anthony’s mother, Mary McLeod, stands behind him,
and Micheaux’s mother. Sheila Hollingsworth, is behind him.
Players sign with A&T, Clemson
By Pat Allen Wilson football players signed scholarship
Editor contracts withcolleges. Defensiveend
Anthony K. McLeod will be playing
Walter Barnhill received a nice for North Carolina Adtl'University
going away present before his retire- and running back Micheaux
ment as head football coach at Hoke Hollingsworth signed on with
County High School in May. This Clemson University,
year, for the first time in school his- Hollingsworth and Mcl-eod joined
tory, more than one of his former (See PLAYERS SIGN, page 8A)
Task force targets gangs in schools
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Gang violence existsat Hoke County High
School, and it is “on the uprise,” said Major
Kevin Locklear, assistant police chief of the
Raeford Police Department.
“We get weapons otf ot kids, and some of
this may be gang-related,” Locklear said. “1
would not say gang violence has increased a
huge amount this year, but we think there is
some gang violence happening. We are try
ing to prevent it.”
In seeking solutions, Hoke school offi
cials, law enforcement, church and civic vol
unteers are pooling their resources to prevent
gang activity at Hoke High and local middle
schools. Dubbed by school superintendent
Mitch Tyler as the “Gang Task Force,” he
said the “partnership” organization has been
active for several months. An aw areness semi
nar for members was held on February 13
with the Fayetteville Police Department’s
Gang Task Unit conducting training classes.
“This group is an outgrowth after parents
(See TASK FORCE, page lOA)